In the mid 1960s the classic period of tractor production arrived with ranges such as Ford’s 1000-series and the Massey Ferguson 135. Tractors were now true workhorses with more power, more reliability and greater driver comfort. Their drivers fell in love with them and many are continuing to work today.

Chris Lockwood has chosen 41 examples to indicate the range of machines that can be called classics. They are all in their working clothes. Alphabetically they range from Belarus to Zetor with several examples from each of the major manufacturers such as Case, International and John Deere – altogether some 26 famous names are included.

Chris Lockwood gives each tractor a full-page photograph opposite which his text provides some technical details of the machines as well as background about the company and the tractor range. This is ideal for novice enthusiasts who will learn something about David Brown, Doe, Leyland and County – as well as more exotic marques such as Same and Steiger.

Suffolk-based Chris Lockwood is the author of the best-selling Know Your Tractors (which deals with modern machines) as well as a growing range of DVDs. He runs the tractor and farm machinery website Mid Suffolk Agri Photos and contributes to Classic TractorClassic Tractor magazine.

British Field Crops 2nd edition: A pocket guide to the identification, history and uses of arable crops in Great Britain, Sally A Francis. Softback, 210 x 148 mm, 108 pages, highly illustrated with line drawings. ISBN 978-0-9550466-2-9 (published by the author). Now in stock at Old Pond at £12.49.

Beautifully illustrated with clear, crisp botanical drawings, it contains detailed, yet accessible, information. (The illustrations below are of swede and the early stage of asparagus.)

The easy-to-use identification keys for cereals, grasses and broadleaved crops are joined by descriptions and notes on origins and history, as well as a list of the uses of the crop and its by-products.

Author Sally Francis provides approximate dates of sowing and harvesting as well as information about geographical distribution in Britain.

The book is used by professionals working in agriculture, schools and higher education. It is also prized by naturalists, birdwatchers, walkers and others with an interest in plants, the countryside or farming.

Dr Francis is a freelance botanical and agricultural writer and consultant who previously worked as a research scientist on barley, wheat and sugar beet. Having grown up on a smallholding in Norfolk, she retains a strong interest in farming and is involved in specialist crop production.

05/24/2013

John Deere Tractors: a power on the land since 1918, Stephen Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam (Tractor Barn). DVD, approx 100 minutes. ISBN 978-1-908397-78-2. Now in stock at Old Pond at £16.95 inc VAT.

John Deere has remained independent throughout its existence. Today it produces a huge range of farm machinery including forage harvesters, combines and of course, tractors, which are built and sold all over the world.

This programme is the story of the John Deere tractor from the Waterloo Boy of 1918 to the latest R Series models, from two-cylinder engines to microchips! Ninety-five years of tractor development is showcased in this overview of the various tractors built in both the USA and Germany during this time.

John Deere tractors have of course become the best-selling marque in most of the world. The Tractor Barn duo tell the story from the original two-cylinder petrol-powered tractors including the famous letter series with such iconic machines as the Model D and R. They go on to deal with the classic lines of the New Generation models of the 1960s and the power of the big 40 and 50 Series tractors of the 1980s.

The story builds to a climax with the 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series tractors of the 1990s and the later 10, 20 and 30 Series versions that set the pattern for the sophisticated, comfortable and world-beating R Series machines of today.

Suffolk-based Stephen Richmond and Jonathan Whitlam have been involved in making tractor programmes for nearly twenty years.

In their latest programme the Gläser brothers have recorded the world’s largest forage harvesters at work in Germany. Included are the John Deere 7950i, New Holland FR9090, Claas Jaguar 980 and Fendt Katana 65, as well as three Krone BigX 1100s lined up in one field.

Their 'John Deere Special' is an additional feature about a JD S690 combine on tracks.

There is an English voice-over as well as an informative 16-page booklet.

Jörn & Tammo Gläser have made a string of popular programmes on agriculture in the United States, Germany and Russia. Their fans know what to expect – interesting locations and insights, exciting machines and a deep appreciation of modern farming methods.

Patrick W Dyer's popular 'Trucks at Work' series of highly illustrated hardback books has a new addition: Volvo F10& F12 at Work 1977-83 . This is now in stock at Old Pond at £19.95. Secure online ordering and details are here.

Enthusiasts for the Appleby Horse Fair will enjoy the new paperback Absolutely Appleby by Heidi M Sands. Heidi's book is now in stock at Old Pond at £9.95. It is packed with beautiful photographs. Details and secure online ordering are here.

05/17/2013

Country Calendar: the Best of 2012, TVNZ. DVD, approx 4½ hours. ISBN 978-1-908397-72-0. Now in stock at Old Pond at £17.95 inc. VAT.

New Zealand’s long-running television series Country Calendar keeps making well-told stories about strong characters doing interesting things in great rural locations. Each of the stories is told in depth.

The twelve episodes chosen as the best of 2012 feature a wide range of farming and outdoors activities. There are musters of cattle and sheep on remote farms, a highly successful shearing partnership, contrasting accounts of fishing, a forestry enterprise and hunting. There are novel approaches to farming from small-acreage lavender cultivation to new developments in cattle feeding. There are plenty of horses, too.

Most of these family-run enterprises use direct marketing to achieve commercial success. Their owners pay close attention to the environment in some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

DISC ONEPrecious Catch: A Westland family catch whitebait in an unspoiled spot.Remote Run: A family copes with remoteness on their mountain station.Horse Heaven: Youngsters at camp learn adventurous horse riding.Fare Game: Callum Hughes hunts wild deer in spectacular scenery.Healthy Harvest: How Rex gets a living from a ‘lifestyle’ block of 1 hectare.Slice of Paradise: Raising cattle and running a campsite in a conservation area.

DISC TWOPaddock Poet: A family that reclaimed eroded land for sheep, cattle and poetry.Fishing Wild Waters: A fisherman who braves the wild waters of Cook Strait.Girl in the Bush: ‘Stormy’ is a 21-year-old girl who works with men as a logger.Son of the Soil: A dairy farmer who has adapted to more sustainable agriculture.The Last Ride: Veteran stockmen ride with wild horses and check their condition.Shear Hard Slog: Meet Emily and Sam – both champion shearers.

Old Pond has previously licensed two other Country Calendar programmes from TVNZ.See here for Country Calendar: Director's Pick.

'The Silver Spade', one of the largest stripping shovels ever built, is the outstanding piece of machinery among other giants of their classes to be seen on the new DVD Extreme Earthmovers at Work. With filming by Eric Orlemann and words by Keith Haddock, this is as authoritative and absorbing a programme as you can find in the earthmoving world. It is now in stock at old Pond. Details and secure online ordering are here.

Anthony Clare's book Ransomes and their Tractor Share Ploughs, first published in 2001, remains the best published source of information on the topic. It has now been brought back into print by Old Pond with some slight revisions. More details and secure online ordering are here.